Nearly half of IT firms 'expect to increase revenues'

By IT section newsdesk

Published Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Some 46 per cent of senior executives in international technology companies expect to increase revenues in 2009 – despite the global downturn. According to the latest ‘IT Confidence Survey’ from PR consortium Eurocom Worldwide the number forecasting increased revenues, however, has fallen from 88 per cent in 2008.

Nearly one third – 31 per cent – of the 335 global technology senior executives surveyed by Eurocom expect revenues to be about the same as last year, while 22 per cent predict a decline in sales for 2009.

On the jobs front, 25 per cent of senior technology executives expect to reduce headcount in 2009, compared to just 6 per cent over the previous 12 months; however, 28 per cent are looking to increase jobs, down from 68 per cent last year. No change in headcount in expected by 46 per cent of the sample.

Technology companies are responding to the slowing global economy by developing or diversifying into new products or services, the survey suggests: 51 per cent are ‘reviewing or developing’ new messages about products or services; 32 per cent are targeting new geographic markets.

Forty-five per cent of those surveyed say that it is ‘easier to recruit IT people’ now compared to 12 months ago; however, 44 per cent reckon that it is ‘about the same’, while 11 per cent said it is ‘more difficult’ to hire IT people. The hardest personnel to recruit are good software engineers – cited by 57 per cent of respondents – followed by international sales executives – 39.5 per cent - and good domestic sales people (33 per cent).